Abrahamowicz Summer Classic: Luke Holtzman shines for Avon against Midview

AMHERST — The game plan Tuesday was to get Avon pitcher Luke Holtzman a taste of varsity-level competition. Holtzman had other plans. He decided to feast on the Midview Middies. Holtzman, a junior, threw a complete game five-hitter, striking out 10 as the Eagles defeated Midview 5-2 as both teams opened play in Amherst at the Adrian Abrahamowicz Summer Classic. The Middies (0-1) got to Holtzman for a run on three hits in the first inning with Zak Jockel singling home Tyler Davis for the first run of the game. But instead of wilting under the pressure, Holtzman settled in and only allowed five baserunners over the final six innings. "I feel like it was a team effort. I threw strikes and I let my defense pick me up," Holtzman said. "I think I handled the step up in competition. I was really happy with the outcome." Eagles cleanup hitter Jack Griffiths got Avon (1-0) on the board in the bottom of the first, singling home Robby Sykora. It was the start of a big night for Griffiths, who also drove in a pair of runs with a single in Avon's three-run fifth inning. "Coming up in big situations I was just trying to put the ball in play and I just happened to barrel a good one," Griffiths said. "Being a leader on this team, I'm just trying to do as much as I can." The top four hitters in the lineup did most of the damage for Avon. Leadoff hitter Hunter Jackson and Sykora, the Eagles No. 2 hitter, each scored a pair of runs. No. 3 hitter Sam Spike reached base three times and drove in two runs. "The new guys really stepped up today. The top three hitters are all new to a varsity setting," Griffiths said. "It's all about getting through the lineup and getting guys on base. We all have to stay mentally prepared for every situation." With both teams starting a stretch of three games in three days and with the possibility of playing a semifinal and final Saturday, Holtzman's performance allowed Avon coach Pat Scholla to save his bullpen for the higher stakes games later in the week. "Luke did a really nice job today. He really built on his time on JV last spring," Scholla said. "He made them earn everything and he trusted his defense to work behind him. "Our JV coaching staff all spring let us know how well Luke was pitching. The way he performed today is a testament to how he's been working his tail off in the offseason." The highlights for Midview (0-1) were the play of Jockel, who went 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI in addition to making a couple of big plays at third base, and starting pitcher sophomore Damien Presser, who gave the Middies four strong innings before tiring in the fifth. "Damien will have a very, very good year at Midview so I was obviously pleased with the way he threw," Midview coach Ryan Morgan said. "Take away that fifth inning and it was really good for his first varsity action." Midview will look to bounce back today when it hosts Keystone while Avon will face Bay at North Ridgeville. "When you strike out 10 times its hard to win games," Morgan said. "One thing we were preaching to them after the game was just simplify things. Take a two-strike approach, just get the bat on the baseball and put it in play. That's something we're really gonna work on and improve upon when we play Keystone." Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.